Second-Look® Recycled Wallcoverings Provide Earth-Friendly Durability for LEED- Certified Expansion
When Lehigh Valley Health Network sourced materials
for its LEED-certified Kasych Family Pavilion in Allentown,
PA., they needed a wallcovering that was eco-forward,
highly durable and aesthetically appealing. “It was a
balancing act,” says Chris Richardson, managing principal
of Charlotte-based FreemanWhite, architects for the
seven-story, 340,000 square-foot expansion. “We wanted
to be earth-friendly, but also needed a durable material
for high-use areas.”
The design team found the right balance in Second-Look, the first recycled vinyl wallcovering on the market. Second-Look includes 20% recycled content including 10% post-consumer material. Made of high-performance Type II vinyl, the wallcovering will last for 10+ years and can be repeatedly recycled to keep it out of landfills for decades. Second-Look also is low-VOC, so contributes to healthy indoor air quality. Its specification helped contribute to LEED points for low-emitting materials and recycled post-consumer content. Since the Second-Look recycling center is located in New Castle, Indiana, the project also contributed to LEED points for sourcing materials within a 500-mile radius.
Wallcovering needs for the $241 million, 120-bed tower were diverse. The expansion houses an IC unit, burn center, open-heart surgery complex as well as classrooms, media center, pharmacy and office space. “To meet the rigorous performance criteria, Lehigh needed all the durability of vinyl wallcovering,” said Brenda Rocchino, Lehigh Valley interior designer. “We have had good luck with vinyl wallcovering. It handles impact and hides wear much better than paint. It also improves sound absorption and provides more visual interest.”
More than 20 patterns of textured wallcoverings were selected to warm up the appear- ance of long corridors and high-tech patient rooms. The design process was very inclusive, with nursing staff and patients weighing in on patterns and color palettes. “We took an open space across from the campus and mocked up three different types of patients rooms,” Richardson explains. The feedback helped the team design an aesthetically pleasing, patient-centered experience.
When wallcoverings need to be replaced, Lehigh plans to reclaim them through the Second-Look program and recycle them for another lifetime of use. “Our experience in working with Second-Look was very easy,” says Rocchino. “We would definitely use the recycled wallcoverings again and look forward to using Second-Look to reclaim wallcoverings in our three campuses.”
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